Shakespeare’s Globe in partnership with Arts Alliance Media announces its 2012 cinema season

Shakespeare’s Globe in partnership with Arts Alliance Media will release three of its 2011 theatre productions to cinemas in the USA, Australia, New Zealand and the UK. The Globe on Screen season will launch globally from September 26 and will include All’s Well That Ends Well, with screenings to commence in the UK from September 26, Much Ado About Nothing, from October 10, and Doctor Faustus, from October 24.

Dominic Dromgoole, Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Globe said “With the advent of new technology it is now possible to see and hear theatrical productions in the cinema with a wonderful sharpness and clarity. We are delighted that these productions will be finding new audiences, who can experience Globe shows as if they were in the building.”

Olivier Award-winning actress Janie Dee (Me & Orson Welles) is a delight as the Countess of Roussillon in All’s Well That Ends Well, directed by John Dove as an uplifting romantic comedy. The orphaned heroine Helena (Ellie Piercey) will stop at nothing to win the proud young aristocrat Bertram (Sam Crane) who is forced to marry her but instantly abandons her. Sumptuous costumes, outstanding original music, and a fine ensemble of actors captured the spirit of Shakespeare’s complex Chekhovian comedy.

Shakespeare’s wittiest of comedies, Much Ado About Nothing, pairs Olivier Award-winning actress Eve Best (The King’s Speech, Nurse Jackie, Shackleton, The Shadow Line) and Charles Edwards (An Ideal Husband, Downton Abbey), as the sparring lovers Beatrice and Benedick, and also features Joseph Marcell (Geoffrey in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) as Leonato. Directed by Jeremy Herrin, this fearless display of Shakespeare’s wit and wisdom, in which words become weapons, comes to sparkling life.

Completing the Globe’s cinema season is a spectacular production of Christopher Marlowe’s tragedy Doctor Faustus, directed by Matthew Dunster. The legendary story of a man who sells his soul to the devil for power and pleasure is given a bright and brilliant interpretation with puppets, pyrotechnics and magic tricks. Arthur Darvill, whose screen credits include the movie Pelican Blood but is best known as Doctor Who’s sidekick in the cult British TV classic, plays Mephistopheles. Paul Hilton, whose big screen credits include Wuthering Heights and Klimt with John Malkovich, takes the title role.

Globe on Screen harnesses the magic that draws people to the home of Shakespeare year after year. The three titles in this limited season give cinema audiences around the world a thrilling, up-close experience of the Globe from the comfort of their seat. For more information about the cinema season, visit the official website.

About Shakespeare’s Globe:

• Globe Exhibition and Tour is open all year round. For more information visit www.shakespearesglobe.com/exhibition
• Indoor Jacobean Theatre: Shakespeare’s Globe is currently fundraising to build an indoor Jacobean theatre, opening in 2013. For further information please visit www.shakespearesglobe.com/indoorjacobeantheatre
• Globe on Tour: The Globe’s productions tour the UK, Europe and America and the Globe is currently developing its touring schedule, as well as screening productions in cinemas. For more information www.shakespearesglobe.com/theatre/on-tour
• Globe Education presents a programme of workshops, lectures, events and staged readings all year round. For more information this programme of events call Globe Education 020 7902 1438 or visit www.shakespearesglobe.com/education
• Globe Shop stocks a variety of products, including theatre season specific merchandise. Shakespeare's Globe is a registered charity and all profits from sales go towards supporting our educational mission. Items can be bought at the onsite shop or online at www.shakespearesglobe.com/shop
• Swan Bar and Restaurant is open all year round. For reservations please call 020 7928 9444. www.loveswan.co.uk
• Shakespeare’s Globe on film: The highly successful 2010 productions of Henry VIII and The Merry Wives of Windsor are now available on DVD from the Globe Shop, and will be available across the UK and internationally from July. DVDs of the award-winning productions of Henry IV, parts 1 and 2 are now on sale internationally and in the Globe Shop, and will be available across the UK August 1.
• The Shakespeare Globe Trust is a registered charity No.266916. Shakespeare’s Globe receives no public subsidy.

When a witch goes bad

FORMER 'GLINDA' LOUISE DEARMAN RETURNS TO STAR AS 'ELPHABA' IN FIRST FOR MUSICAL WICKED

Wicked, the smash hit West End musical, is proud to announce that Louise Dearman, who played ‘Glinda’ to huge acclaim from March 2010 to December 2011, will return to star as ‘Elphaba’ from Monday 29 October 2012. It is the first time that a leading lady will have starred in both roles in the nearly decade-long history of the global musical phenomenon.

Louise Dearman is a musical theatre star, recording artist and presenter. In addition to ‘Glinda’ in Wicked, her major musical theatre roles have included: ‘Eva Peron’ in Evita, ‘Grizabella’ in Cats and ‘Sarah Brown’ in Guys and Dolls.  She has released two albums, including the recent ‘Here Comes The Sun’. You can find out more over at her official website.

Credit: Dan Wooller

Louise Dearman commented: “As an actress, you strive to challenge yourself to play as many diverse roles as possible throughout your career, and right now I feel like the luckiest girl in the history of musical theatre. I still can’t quite believe that in two months’ time I’ll be back in Wicked, but this time I won’t come and go by Bubble, I’ll be on a broomstick!"

UK Executive Producer Michael McCabe said: “From her wonderful performance as Glinda, audiences already know that Louise possesses a stunning voice and remarkable acting abilities, so we are genuinely excited to now welcome her back to Wicked as Elphaba. We have all been awestruck by the way Louise has channelled her incredible talents to inhabit this iconic role, and I’ve no doubt that audiences will be equally thrilled”.

The multi award-winning Wicked has already been seen by over 4.5 million people since its West End premiere in 2006 at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. It is now one of the Top 20 longest-running musicals in West End history.

Wicked has music and lyrics by Academy Award® winner Stephen Schwartz, a book by Winnie Holzman and is directed by two-time Tony Award® winner and Olivier nominee Joe Mantello.  Wicked is based on the best-selling novel, ‘Wicked – The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West’, by Gregory Maguire.

Apollo Victoria Theatre, Wilton Road, London, SW1V 1LG
The theatre is 1 minute from London Victoria Mainline and Underground Stations. 5 minute walk from Victoria Coach Station.

Wicked spearheads and supports a range of good causes born out of the themes of the award-winning musical. Discover more at: www.WickedForGood.co.uk

Zach Braff on the London stage

Yet another change from the usual film related stories that normally appear on this blog. This time it's for a play on the London stage. Zach Braff Scrubs and Garden State makes his UK stage acting debut in a new comedy, All The New People. Not only does Zach star in the play he wrote it himself as well.

I have been sent over a featurette about the "star studded" opening night extravaganza that happened on February 28th. Tickets are on sale for the play, either at the Duke Of York's box office or via the play's official website.

Opening night Featurette

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This angst-fuelled comedy saw New York’s Second Stage Theatre packed out nightly and received rave reviews from US critics, with its present day dilemmas and take on four very different characters way of life.

In the dead of winter, at his wealthy friends’ luxury Long Beach Island apartment, Charlie (Zach Braff) has hit rock bottom on his 35th birthday. Away from the rest of the world, this perfect escape is interrupted by a motley parade of misfits who show up and change his plans. A hired beauty, a fireman, and an eccentric British real estate agent desperately trying to stay in the country all suddenly find themselves tangled together in a beach house where the mood is anything but sunny, while Charlie just wishes they’d leave and let him get on with it.

Images courtesy of Paul Clapp at Limelight Studios